This past weekend in Paris, the Mediterranean Union was launched. French President and current President of the EU Nicolas Sarkozy was front and center all weekend long smiling for the cameras and acting very proud of himself, but is Sarkozy really in charge of this new union? I ask this question because everything I read about this new MU seems to be supportive of an agreement that is already in place. This agreement is the Barcelona Process or Euromead.
Nothing is more telling or supports this idea more than to read the "Joint Declaration of the Paris Summit for the Mediterranean " which was released shorty after the end of the MU Summit. The whole thing can be read here..... http://www.eu2008.fr/webdav/site/PFUE/shared/import/0713_declaration_de_paris/Joint_declaration_of_the_Paris_summit_for_the_Mediterranean-EN.pdf
Here are some highlights....
2. Heads of State and Government underline the important role played by the Barcelona Process since 1995. The Barcelona Process has been the central instrument for Euro-Mediterranean relations. Representing a partnership of 39 governments and over 700 million people, it has provided a framework for continued engagement and development. The Barcelona Process is the only forum within which all Euro-Mediterranean partners exchange views and engage in constructive dialogue. It represents a strong commitment to peace, democracy, regional stability and security through regional cooperation and integration. The Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean aims to build on that consensus to pursue cooperation, political and socioeconomic reform and modernisation on the basis of equality and mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty.
13. The Barcelona Process: Union for the Mediterranean will be complementary to EU bilateral relations with these countries1 which will continue under existing policy frameworks such as the Association Agreements, the European Neighbourhood Policy action plans,
The European Neighbourhood Policy is an existing agreement that started in 2007 and lasts for 7 years. It did not replace the Barcelona Agreement, but strengthened it and breathed new life into it. It is very clear from everything that I am reading in today's headlines about the MU, that the MU is designed to function within the existing framework of the Barcelona Agreement and the ENP. Here are a couple of noteworthy quotes.
“As I've tried to point out, the European Neighbourhood Policy does not replace the process launched years ago in Barcelona. It renews it, clarifies it and breathes fresh life into it.” Margot Wallstrom regarding the ENP and fears that it was replacing the 1995 EURO-MED [E.U. "ROMED"] Agreement“
[The European] neighbourhood policy [ENP] is not a substitute for the Barcelona process; it rather underpins and deepens it.” Javier Solana December 17, 2006
So now I ask who is in charge of the EU and all of these agreements? There has been a lot of discussion lately in prophecy circles about Sarkozy, but in my mind Solana is still in the drivers seat and Sarkozy is doing Solana's bidding.
I came across a commentary today that I believe states this better than I could so I will post his thoughts below for you. The author's name is Pastor Brian Roberts and I have been reading his commentary's for quite awhile. You can find more of his thoughts at this link...http://www.pastorbrianroberts.com/
Stay Tuned
Curt
THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS
IS ON THE MOVE
7/13/08
MY THOUGHTS
Here are some news links coming out of the Mediterranean Union. Again, I
want to reiterate that Sarkozy's idea of the MU is being directed by Javier
Solana's European Neighborhood Policy (ENP). This means that Solana is in the
driver's seat. The partnership pact with Syria is apart of Syria's Action Plan
within the ENP. The ENP could have great prophetic implications for all of us.
You see, the ENP confirmed the Barcelona Process at the end of 2006, and came
into effect on January 1st, 2007. There are many who think that this was the
prophetic confirmed covenant spoken in Daniel 9:27. So far, the news coming out
of the MU supports that notion instead of negating it.
Where does that
bring us? If the ENP is the prophetic covenant, then you don't need a peace
treaty to start things off. The Bible never said it had to be a peace treaty,
just a treaty. The false peace is a slow dawning of peace that comes upon the
Middle East during the first 3 ½ years of the 70th week of Daniel. The Great
Tribulation and then the Day of the Lord does not come until at the midpoint of
the 70th week, and toward the end of the 70th week respectively.
If the
MU comes out of all of this and comes into its own and confirms the Barcelona
Process and the ENP, then we may need to look at a new treaty as a possible
treaty of Daniel 9:27. As of right now, that has not happened, and the ENP is
the leading candidate to the prophesied treaty. If the ENP is that prophesied
treaty, then we may only have a couple of years until the Abomination of
Desolation (Matthew 24:15). What an exciting and yet scary time to live in.
Always keep yourself in Christ, and let Him be your rock and salvation. Jesus is
the only way to life and the only way to heaven. Unfortunately, some like Tony
Blair don't get it. I hope you do. Jesus is the only way, and if someone follows
another way, show them love, but don't get drawn into their own deception. Be
ready, because the Kingdom of Darkness is on the move.
God Bless,
Bro. Brian
7 comments:
Hi there,
I realize this is an older blog entry of yours, but I just recently took up an interest in the blogosphere, especially relating to eschatological endeavors, and yours is one of the first blogs I found relating to the 70th week. (I don't have a blog of my own, but maybe someday I will).
Concerning the ENP:
How is it that we could already be in the 70th week and have yet to see an animal sacrifice or any developments whatsoever on jewish religious rites?
Is the ENP not rather a foreshadowing of the type of organization we might see behind a future peace deal?
Why do you say the great tribulation starts in the middle of the week?
Thanks in advance...
gboyd
gboyd1972@gmail.com
Hi gboyd,
Thanks for dropping by and posting your thoughts and questions.
First off, let me just say the start of animal sacrifice does not have a designated starting date during the 70th week of Daniel. No where in scripture will you find that animal sacrifices start at the beginning of the week, or 60 days in or 90 days, etc. All that scripture states is that sacrifices and grain offerings will be ended at the midpoint. Let me post the scripture I am referencing.
Daniel 9:27
27"And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of (BC)abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a (BD)complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."
So as you can see the only concrete timing we have when it comes to animal sacrifices is that it will be stopped in the middle.
So in order for the ENP to be valid animal sacrifices must begin some time before the midpoint (3 1/2 years into the 7) so that it can be ended at the midpoint. Having said that I am not sure if the ENP is prophetic yet or not and probably will not know for sure until the midpoint (July 2010). Could it be a foreshadowing for a future covenant? Sure. By the way I am not convinced that the covenant will be a peace deal, as scripture does not state this. It only says covenant.
To answer your last question lets turn to Mathew 24:15-21
15"Therefore when you see the (T)ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in (U)the holy place ((V)let the reader understand),
16then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains.
17"Whoever is on (W)the housetop must not go down to get the things out that are in his house.
18"Whoever is in the field must not turn back to get his cloak.
19"But (X)woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!
20"But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath.
21"For then there will be a (Y)great tribulation, such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until now, nor ever will.
If you read these verses you will find that the great tribulation starts at the midpoint of the 70th week (3 1/2 years in) after the Abomination of Desolation.
I hope this helps, and your questions and comments are welcome any time.
Curt
Curt,
Thanks for responding so quickly.
I do realize the animal sacrifice could start just a few days before it is taken away, so technically, yeah, the ENP could be a peace 'treay' or 'covenant' of some sort; nevertheless, I must say that if we are currently going through a period of peace for Israel and the world, I'd hate to see what real war looks like. I'd have to deduce at this point that the ENP has no teeth and is a mere paper tiger...
Concerning timetable of abomination of desolation coming before the great tribulation, I absolutely agree. Concerning the abomination of desolation occurring in the middle of the 70th week, I can find no scripture to support that. I realize I am alone in my position, and I am greatly outnumbered in my viewpoint, yet I am not going to go with the crowd on that idea...
gene
Hey gboyd,
It is nice conversing with you.
A couple of thoughts. First off, please show in scripture that the world including Israel will go through a period of peace after the covenant is signed. I have heard a lot of people and teachers say this, but I have yet to find concrete scriptural support for it. I know that people will be talking about peace and safety but does it actually happen?
Second, I find it interesting that you don't find any scriptural support for the AOD occurring at the midweek. Could you elaborate more, because I am interested in your reasoning.
Curt
Curt,
I rejoice in the Lord that we can converse and seriously look for merit in each other's points of view. Your interest in my stance is matched by my interest in yours as I am always willing to change my mind if logic, rationale, and faith would dictate I should.
What I did, rather than take up a lot of room on your blog space was to begin a blog of my own. In my last post, http://gratitudelooksgoodonyou.blogspot.com/2008/09/why-i-think-why-i-dont-think.html
, I made a rudimentary effort to delve into scripture and logic as I begin explain why I think the 70th week, at least the first half, will be a fairly genuine peace; then I go on to explain, with scripture reference, why I don't think the AOD will be set up in the middle of the week.
I am hoping that my tone does not come across too harshly, for it is not my motivation to debate as the manner of some, who seem to enjoy the constant challenges that come from taking up certain positions. Rather, I am hoping to find those areas on which we can agree and then develop a positive and fruitful exchange from those points as we go deeper into the greatness of his perfect love, which we can attain to if we so desire.
gene
Gene,
Cool, I will check it out.
Curt
Curt,
Thanks for checking it out. That was very noble of you, for I got to thinking after I made the previous comment that I was being a bit rash in my answer and expecting too much in having you go over to look at my blog. I guess that was the amatuer in me, desiring approval from someone.
I reread my blog post and realize it may be a bit wordy and hard to understand, for which reason, I have made another attempt to put in a nutshell some of the reasons I think we will see a fairly genuine peace for Israel and the world, and also to point out why I think the AOD does not occur in the middle of the week...
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish.
Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. Isaiah 41:10-12
I believe these verses will ring true for Israel before we see the 70th week, which means there are some tough and challenging days ahead, and which will probably coincide with the conclusion of the Global War on Terrorism. The reason I believe this is that if Israel's enemies--and there are many these days--if they are not ashamed, confounded, and scattered, there is no way the temple will go up in short order, and without the means to peacefully assemble and construct their temple and institute certain rites and rituals of it, there will be no 70th week.
Consider the rebuilding of Jerusalem after they began returning from Babylon, how that the enemies of Israel hindered the work (Ezra 4:4). The workers built with one hand and held a sword in the other (Nehemiah 4:17). There can be no major hindrances of that sort to keep the temple from going up. The next temple will not easily go up in such a short period of time if there is anything less than some sort of real peace for Israel and the world.
Bearing that in mind, we have another example for the next temple, in that they made the altar and the sacrifice before the foundation of the temple was even laid down (Ezra 3:6). This realization quickens me as I once pondered how that the sacrifice could be halted a mere three and a half years into a peace deal, even though all the materials are at hand for a new temple; and the thought of it becoming complete and up and running in a few short years is hard to imagine. The primary hindrance of Jewish liberty concerning their temple site will come from the liberal agenda of environmentalist extremists and animal rights activists, for it is not hard to imagine that a loud outcry will be made against animal sacrifice once it gets going full swing. The new world leader will eventually be involved in giving in to these concerns and putting a halt to those types of rituals. Shortly thereafter, he will see the rewards of working against the holy people, and he will lead a 42 month campaign of oppressing and taking away the rights and abilities of Christians and Jews (Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7). With that being determined, this will also coincide with the great falling away, which must come before the abomination is set up and before the day of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 2:3,4). Many will find their eschatological theories are on shaky ground when they realize that the foretold seven years of peace, (often erroneously called the 7 years of great tribulation), are something they must live through and the great tribulation does not actually begin until after the 7 years are past and the abomination of desolation is seen in the temple. Another common error is that the removal of the sacrifice and the abomination of desolation will occur around the same time in the middle of the 7 years, but according to Daniel 12:11, there will be exactly 1,290 days between these events. Interesting how that many people who understand there is a pause between the 69th and 70th weeks foretold in Daniel, many of those who believe this do not realize there is a pause between the removal of the daily sacrifice and the setting up of the abomination of desolation...
One thing I have found personally in the development of eschatological theories is that when one of my angles just doesn't seem quite right, and then some insight comes along that helps me revise it, then I can grow by learning something I didn't know before. It is sort of like God is closing a door but opening a window. Eschatological work can be quite heady when one gets into a lot of understanding and knowledge; it is important that we do not lose our peace of mind in the process.
gene
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